[Nfbf-l] People Who Undergo Cataract Surgery to Correct Visual Impairment Live Longer

[Alan Dicey]

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People Who Undergo Cataract Surgery to Correct Visual Impairment Live Longer

People Who Undergo Cataract Surgery to Correct Visual Impairment Live Longer
People with cataract-related vision loss who have had cataract surgery to 
improve their sight are living longer than those with visual impairment who 
chose not to have the procedure, according to an Australian cohort study 
published this month in Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy 
of Ophthalmology. After comparing the two groups, the researchers found a 40 
percent lower long-term mortality risk in those who had the surgery...

The research is drawn from data gathered in the Blue Mountains Eye Study, a 
population-based cohort study of vision and common eye diseases in an older 
Australian population. A total of 354 persons aged 49 years and older and 
diagnosed with cataract-related vision impairment -- some of whom had 
undergone surgery and others who had not -- were assessed between 1992 and 
2007. Adjustments were made for age and gender as well as a number of 
mortality risk factors, including hypertension, diabetes, smoking, 
cardiovascular disease, body mass index and measures of frailty and comorbid 
disease. Follow-up visits took place after five and ten years since the 
baseline exam.
Previous research had indicated that older persons with visual impairment 
were likely to have greater mortality risk than their age peers with normal 
vision, and that cataract surgery might reduce this risk. These studies --  
unlike the Blue Mountains Eye Study -- compared people who had undergone 
cataract surgery with those in the general population or with those who had 
not had cataract surgery, and did not link vision status to the surgical 
status.
"Our finding complements the previously documented associations between 
visual impairment and increased mortality among older persons," said Jie Jin 
Wang, Ph.D., of the Westmead Millennium Institute and one of lead 
researchers of the study. "It suggests to ophthalmologists that correcting 
cataract patients' visual impairment in their daily practice results in 
improved outcomes beyond that of the eye and vision, and has important 
impacts on general health."
The association between correction of cataract-related visual impairment and 
reduced mortality risk is not clearly understood, but plausible factors may 
include improvements in physical and emotional well-being, optimism, greater 
confidence associated with independent living after vision improvement, as 
well as greater ability to comply with prescription medications.
Dr. Wang noted one limitation of the study is that participants with 
cataract-related visual impairment who did not have cataract surgery could 
have had other health problems that prevented them from undergoing surgery, 
and that these other health problems could partly explain the poorer 
survival among non-surgical participants. This issue is addressed by the 
researchers in a subsequent study.
Caused by the clouding of the lens, cataract is a leading cause of treatable 
visual impairment that will affect more than half of all Americans by the 
time they are 80 years old. Surgical removal of the opaque lens with an 
artificial lens implanted is a successful procedure of cataract treatment. 
If completing everyday tasks is difficult, cataract surgery should be 
discussed with an ophthalmologist ? a medical doctor specializing in the 
diagnosis, medical and surgical treatment of eye diseases and conditions.
Seniors who are seeking eye care but are concerned about cost may qualify 
for EyeCare America, a public service program of the Foundation of the 
American Academy of Ophthalmology, which offers eye exams and care at no 
out-of-pocket cost to qualifying seniors age 65 and older.
Story Source:
The above story is based on materials provided by American Academy of 
Ophthalmology, via Newswise.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further 
information, please contact the source cited above.
Journal Reference:
1.     Calvin Sze-un Fong, Paul Mitchell, Elena Rochtchina, Erdahl T. Teber, 
Thomas Hong, Jie Jin Wang. Correction of Visual Impairment by Cataract 
Surgery and Improved Survival in Older Persons. Ophthalmology, 2013; 120 
(9): 1720 DOI: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2013.02.009